Questions on autism. (Your Letters).

I am writing in response to your series of articles on autism published in the November-December 2002 issue. Yesterday, my sister told me that her son had been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. I was so grateful to find that your magazine contained helpful and non-intimidating information that I could give to her.

 
K.F. 
E-mail 

I wanted to tell you how very impressed I am with your reports on the vaccine-autism link. I recently saw news coverage on major stations about the association between vaccines and autism. Their reports were highly disappointing; they presented a one-sided, oversimplified view that in my opinion was negligent and misleading. Mothering should be commended for its excellent journalism; you dig deep without bending to sociopolitical pressure to portray vaccines in a positive light. Your magazine demonstrates a great deal of social conscience by presenting all information on this topic, allowing parents to make educated decisions about vaccination for themselves. As a professional in the field of psychology and the parent of an autistic child damaged by vaccines, I'm forever indebted to your staff for raising public awareness.

 
ALICIA J. CLARKE 
Scotch Plains, New Jersey 

I declined my son's MMR shot only to read the most recent issue, which features articles linking autism to thimerosal. Finding out that it affects boys more seriously than girls was like the day we found out the Washington, DC, sniper had been caught just a few miles from our home: I felt relief and panic when I read that my son came so close to possible autism. I feel indebted to you for saving him from that fate by giving me the information I needed.

 
BETSY 
E-mail 

Many readers may be interested in the autism-mercury e-mail list available at http: //groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Mercury. This is a high-volume list (about 75 messages per day) that discusses thimerosal, developmental and learning disorders, mercury detoxification, and many methods for helping kids. It is especially a resource for parents who have children affected by these issues.

There is also a FAQ file about autism and mercury issues at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/Autism-Mercury/files/Mercury-Autism% 20FAQ, and a collection of…